Tourism Malaysia is teaming up with Airlines and travel firms over new packages to draw more Vietnamese to that country, as part of a major campaign that Secretary General Ong Hong Peng from the country's tourism ministry announced last Friday.
The Malaysian tourism authority is working with Malaysia Airlines over the three-day package "Malaysia Stopover Special Promotion" and the three-day tour "Discover Malaysia Pass" to Kuala Lumpur.
The "Malaysia Stopover Special Promotion" starts from US$110 per person while the other costs from US$199. These tours are higher than the low-cost air carrier AirAsia's package of around US$115 for two nights of hotel accommodation and airport transfers.
Meanwhile, Brunei Airlines is offering a four-day package tour comprising of destinations in Malaysia and Brunei at a cost of from US$619. This tour can be booked at local travel companies including Saigontourist
As outlined in the major campaign "Discover Malaysia," an arts troupe from Malaysia will come to HCMC to entertain diners at the Malaysian food promotion at the Windsor Plaza Hotel from July 11 to 13. They together with fashion designer Bill Keith will also join shows at the "Night of Malaysian Culture" at Ben Thanh Theater on July 14.
Tourism Malaysia will also run a "Discover Malaysia" campaign at big trading centers in HCMC in August to further promote Malaysia's tourist attractions. Participants will be provided information about the country and a chance to win tours there.
Last year, Malaysia attracted 120,000 Vietnamese tourists, up 87.8% over the more than 63,000 in 2006. The number in the first five months of this year was 45,450, according to Ammar Abd. Ghapar, Tourism Malaysia's senior deputy director for international promotion and Southeast Asia division.
Ammar told the Daily after the launch of the "Discover Malaysia" campaign in HCMC last week that the number of Vietnamese travelers to that country in the first five months was down compared with the same period last year. This decline has forced Tourism Malaysia to revise down the target for this year.
Ammar told the Daily at a function organized by the budget airline AirAsia in HCMC in April to mark its services to this city that the Malaysian tourism authority had set a target of 180,000 Vietnamese tourists for this year based on the steep rise last year.
However, Ammar said the new target for this year was around 130,000.
"We have to be realistic... and the 10,000 higher than the number of last year is obtainable given more direct flights between Malaysia and Vietnam "
Ammar said Vietnam was an emerging potential market for Malaysia despite the decline in the number of Vietnamese tourists in the first five months, mostly due to economic challenges in Vietnam and higher air fares.
Commenting on the more than 45,000 Vietnamese visiting Malaysia in the first five months of this year, Ong of Malaysia's Ministry of Tourism said: "This means we are on track in Vietnam, which is a very important market for us."
Ong told the Daily that more promotions and attractive packages would be offered to attract more Vietnamese tourists to the upcoming events toward the end of this year.
Ammar said Tourism Malaysia would initially concentrate on the campaign in HCMC where the country attracts the majority of tourists before extending efforts to Hanoi and provinces.
(Source: SGT)
Tag: Airlines , Airport , Asia , Culture , Flight , Hanoi , Hcm , Hotel , International , Malaysia , Saigon , Tour , Tourism , Tourist , Travel , Vietnam , Vietnamese , Vietnamese Travel Tourism Malaysia runs campaign to woo locals - Malaysia Airlines
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